Vehicle brake



Jan. 17, H939u `T. c, E. ROWLAND ET A1. l 2,144,086

VEHICLE BRAKE Fil'evd March i5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet HMS.

Jan.. 17, 1939.

T. cA E. RowLAND ET AL VEHICLE BRAKE Filed March 13, 1937 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 fla,

Mvfww T. c. E. RowLAND E T A1. 2,144,086'

VEHICLE BRAKE Filed March 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 17, 1939- T. c. E. RowLAND ET AL Y 2,144,085

VEHICLE BRAKE Filed March 15;'"193'7 4 sheets-sheet 4 #armi *Parker Abb/MME- UMJAM JWM Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNET STATES VEHICLE BRAKE Thomas Carlyle Ellison Rowland, Solihull, and

Harry Parker, Kings Heath, Birmingham, England Application March 13, 1937, Serial No. 130,780 In Great Britain August 4, 1936 9 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle brakes in which one or more brake shoes is or are acted upon by a cam or other actuating member to move it or them into contact with the brake drum, apparatus being provided whereby wear of the friction lining material on said shoe or shoesis automatically compensated for.

The invention has particular reference to automatic adjusting apparatus of the kind wherein the working clearance between the brake shoe or shoes and the drum is determined by means of a movable abutment associated with said shoe o1' with each shoe, and wherein said abutment is adjusted by screw-and-nut or other mechanism which is automatically operated, when the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becomes excessive, in a manner to reduce the travel necessary.

In the specication of Letters Patent No. 2,049,628, granted to us August 4th, 1936, we have described and shown apparatus of the above kind in ywhich worm reduction gearing is interposed between the adjusting mechanism and the operating means therefor, such means including a ratchet wheel mounted on the worm shaft and actuated by means of a rack pivoted to a stationary part of the brake, which rack acts as a pawl.

One object of the present invention is to proviole an improved apparatus which allows of a much greater movement being obtained between the driving and driven parts of the operating means. This enables a ratchet wheel having coarser teeth to be used and the driving member may be in the form of a pawl which is loaded by a spring more lightly than was necessary in the case of the rack previously used.

In the arrangement according to our prior specification, it was found desirable to use two ratchet wheels side by side with their teeth staggered. Another object of the present invention is to enable equally satisfactory results to be obtained with a single ratchet wheel, and to permit the operating means to be adjusted as regards the stroke of the driving member thereof.

Further objects are to provide a construction of apparatus for whose assembly no great skill is necessary, and in which the moving parts are effectually protected from moisture and dirt.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a sectional view in side elevation showing one form oi the invention.

Figure 2 is a View upon an enlarged scale showing lthe form ci one way drive used in this construction.

(Cl. 18S-79.5)

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a sectional View in end elevation of the construction shown in Figures l to 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view in side elevation 5 showing a modiiication.

Figure 7 is a sectional view in side elevation showing a further modiication.

Figure 8 is a sectional View in side elevation showing our present invention applied to a brake 10 actuated by fluid pressure.

Figure 9 is a sectional plan View showing our invention as applied to a brake operated by a sliding member.

In the construction shown in Figures l to 5 a l5 brake drum is shown at Iii and this contains brake shoes II and I2, pivoted respectively at I3 and I4 to a stationary back plate I5, each shoe being normally held clear of the drum by means of a spring Ilm;

Each brake shoe has a friction lining I6 thereon, and means hereinafter to be described are provided for automatically adjusting the shoes I I, I2 towards the drum l@ as the linings IG wear thinner, so that the clearance between the linings It and the drum I ii in the inoperative position of the shoes il, I2 is maintained substantially constant.

In the construction illustrated in Figures l to 5 each of the shoes is provided with a movable abutment Il adapted to be moved outwardly from the end of the shoe by means of a screw I8.

The screw I3 which is situated in the shoe I2, carries a worm wheel I El meshing with a worm 29 on a worm spindle 22 extending transversely through the shoe. The two screws I3 are mechanically coupled together by the member 2l so that an endwise movement of the abutment associated with the shoe E2 is accompanied by a corresponding movement, in the opposite direction, of the abutment associated with the shoe I I. Between the two abutments Il the actuating cam 313 operates. This cam is mounted in a bearing in the back plate I5 and it can be turned by an operating lever 3l. 45

This mechanism need not be described in greater detail, as it corresponds with that described and shown in the prior specification to which we have referred.

The Worm 255 projects from the side of the shoe I2 and is there formed or provided with a ratchet wheel 23 the teeth of which, in the present construction, co-operate with a pawl 28 or the equivalent mounted for oscillatory movement about the axis of the wheel 22.

This pawl 28 may be enclosed in and c arried by a housing which comprises a ring 2d, an end plate 25, and an inner plate ZES, these three parts being secured together to form a unit. The inner plate 26 is provided with a central opening which receives and nts the worm shaft 22, and the end plate 25 has a central spigot 25a which engages a recess in the end of said shaft. The ring 24 is recessed internally as shown at 2l to accommodate the pawl 28 pivoted at 29 and acted upon by a spring 35i. This pawl engages With the teeth of the ratchet wheel 23.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that the ratchet Wheel 23 is turned by an angular movement of the housing 2li, 25, 26 in a contra-clockwise direction, but is not aiTected by a clockwise mov-ement of the housing, the pawl 28 merely riding over the teeth of the wheel 23. The housing aforesaid is mechanically coupled to an arm 35:3 fixed to the cam 34, the connection taking the form of a linlr 3| which is pivoted to the housing at 32 and to the arm at 35. The lever 33 may be provided with a plurality of holes, one o1" which can be seen at 3S, so that the point of connection between the link 3i and the lever can be adjusted so that either more or less oscillatory movement is imparted to the housing 25, E for a given movement of the cani 311i. This provides a convenient means whereby the working clearance between the brake linings i5 and the drum iii can be adjusted.

The construction shown in Figure 6 is similar to that shown in Figures l to 5, with the exception that in this case the lever 3S associated with the cam projects outwardly towards the circumference of the brake drum instead of inwardly towards the centre, and the point of connection 32 between the link 3i and the one-way drive is now on the outer side of the latter.

'I'he arrangement shown in Figur-e '7 resembles that of Figure 6, except insofar as the link lil connected to the arm 3s or the cam Sd extends to the inner side of the housing 25,

In the operation of the brake, the shoes Ei, l2 are expanded against the drum i@ by rotation of the cam 3s, so that the operating means for the adjustment device is moved bodily away from the centre of the cam. The housing 25 26 is thus moved angularly in relation to, and concentrically of, the ratchet wheel No movement of the worm shaft T22 takes place, however, unless the relative movement between the wheel 23 and the pawl carried by the housing exceeds the length of one of the ratchet teeth.

When, owing to the state of wear of the brake linings, the movement of the shoes i i, l 2 in applying the brake is suicent to cause the pawl 2S to override a tooth of the wheel rotary movement of the worm shaft 22 takes place on the return movement of the Shoes, so that a similar movement of both abutments Vi is made, as described in our prior U. S. A. specication Ne. 2,049,528.

In the construction shown in Figure 8 a modication is shown in which our improved apparatus is applied to a brake which is operated by fluid pressure. In this case a fluid cylinder t! is provided, in the ends of which there are pistons, each piston having a rod Q2, the two rods i2 acting on the ends of the brake shoes ii i2, the arrangement being such that when it is desired to apply the brake fluid is forced into the cylinder between the pistons so that they are forced outwardly and consequently turn the brake shoes on their pivots.

The cylinder is carried by a fixed bracket having a part i3 which extends partly around the cylinder and this fixed bracket is formed with a pair of housings ilfl, each housing containing mechanism which corresponds substantially to the brake adjusting mechanism described in our prior U. S. A. specification No. 2,049,628. In each housing there is a worin shaft @E on which is a worm d6 driving a worm wheel #il on a sleeve 48, the sleeve being threaded internally and containing a screw (i9 engaging the said thread. Means are provided for locating the sleeve i3 against endwise movement, so that when it is turned the screw is moved outwardly.

The shaft 35 is adapted to be driven by a one- Way drive device 5@ which may be constructed substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The outer ends of the screws is are forked and each engages over a web 5 iformed on one of the brake shoes.

The stationary back plate of the brake is provided with a pair of brackets 52 upon each of which is pivoted a lever 553 at One arrn of each lever is pivotally connected at to one end of a brake shoe and the other arm of the same lever is pivotally connected` at E@ to a link 5'? forming a mechanical connection between the lever and the one-way drive device. The one-way drive devices are, therefore, driven from the brake shoes in this construction. When the clearance between the brake lining and the circumference of the brake drum is normal, the movement imparted to each one-way drive device is insufcient to cause the pawl E8 to ride over a tooth', but as soon as the movement at either shoe becomes eX- cessive, the pawl engages a fresh tooth, so that on the return movement the worm shaft l5 is given a partial rotation, thus advancing the screw and automatically reducing the clearance between the brake lining and the braise drum.

It will be clear that the link. El can be connected at any point along the arm of the lever 53, so that the amount of movement imparted to the one-way drive device at each operation can be anything that may be desired. In fact, this movement can be set in accordance with the clearance desired between the brake linino and the brake drum.

When an adjustment occurs in this construction the shoe which has been adjusted is prevented by the screw fit from coming back beyond a certain distance, so that the piston in the cylinder il associated with this particular shoe will not be pushed so far inwardly in the cylinder. Means are provided in the hydraulic system to keep the cylinder full of fluid.

In the construction shown in Figure 9 our invention is shown applied to a well-known type of brake wherein, to apply the brake, adjacent ends of the brake shoes are forced apart by means of a wedge 53 acting through rollers 59 upon the slides which engage adjacent ends of the brake shoes.

In the construction shown in Figure 9 the brake shoes are shown at l! and l2 and the brake drum is shown at lil. The stationary back plate is shown at 55 and the operating shaft of the wedge 58 is mounted in a bearing 5de. formed in a plate SG. This plate Si? is a floating plate and is provided with studs Si which extend through slots 62 in the back plate l5, the arrangement being such that the plate til carrying the shaft is capable of a limited sliding movement across the back plate l5. This motion is desirable owing to unequal wear of the linings of the two brake shoes. If wear for the two linings is desired, then the plate 6U may be formed integrally with or xed to the plate l5. The slots 62 are, of course, parallel to the movement produced by the wedge 53.

In applying our invention to this type of brake, apparatus corresponding essentially with that described in our prior U. S. A. specification No. 2,049,628 is mounted so as to function between the wedge and the ends of the brake shoes. The plate 6d is formed with two tubular guides 63 in each of which is mounted a sleeve 64 having an inclined end 65a adapted to be operated upon by the rollers 59.

Within each sleeve 54 is a hollow stud 65, the outer end of which is recessed as shown at 66 and engages a trunnion 6I on one of the brake shoes. Each of these studs is arranged to move in an endwise direction, but is prevented from rotation by suitable means.

The interior of each stud 65 is screw threaded and engaged by a screw 68. In the one case the screw is provided with a worm wheel @9` adapted to be operated by a worm 'it on a worm shaft Ii. The worm shaft is adapted to be operated by a one-way drive device 'i2 which may be constructed similarly to that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The one-way drive device is pivotally connected at 'M to the wedge member 58, the arrangement being such that, when the clearance between the brake linings and the brake drum is normal the one-way drive device does not move far enough to impart any motion to the worm shaft Ii, but when the clearance between the brake linings and the brake drum becomes excessive then there is suiicient movement of the wedge member 58 to cause the one-way drive device to impart rotary motion to the worm shaft TI, so as to rotate the screw 68 which in turn imparts endwise movement to the stud 65.

The two screws 58 are mechanically coupled together by a member 'l5 constructed in accordance with our prior U. S. A. specification No. 2,049,628.

Owing to the fact that in this type of brake the lining of one brake shoe always wears faster than the other, the pitch of the one screw 68 which is directly driven from the one-way drive device may be considerably greater than the pitch of the other screw 63. Thus, with an equal amount of rotational movement, one screw will produce considerably more adjustment than the other screw. By employing such an arrangement, the lateral movement of the shaft 5ta may be kept down to a minimum.

In all the various constructions described, the screw and nut mechanism and a worm spindle may be protected against the effects of rain, water and dirt by providing a washer such as 'i6 (see Figure 5), this washer being retained in place by a thin metal ring 'il held in place by screws '18.

We claim:

l. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a fixed support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into contact with said drum, pull-oir means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for -wear of said friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device, a mechanical connection between said operating means and a part of the brake other than that on which said operating means as a whole is mounted, said connection being so arranged that said operating means is actuated by relative motion of said operating means as a whole and said other part of the brake when said shoe is brought into contact with said drum, such actuation of said operating means being adapted, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, to caus-e uni-directional movement of said adjustment device in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, means for varying the degree of actuation of said operating means required to produce a given movement of said adjustment device, and reduction gearing interposed between said adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

2. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a fixed support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into contact with said drum, pull-ofi means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for wear of said friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device comprising driving and driven elements anguiarly movable about a common centre, a coupling member connected to said driving element at a position offset from the centre thereof and also connected to a part of the brake other than that on which said operating means as a whole is mounted, said coupling member being so arranged that relative motion of said operating means as a whole and said other part of the brake, during pivotal movement of said shoe, causes an angular movement of said driving element about its centre, such angular movement of said driving element being adapted to cause uni-directional rotation of said driven element whereby, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, said adjustment device is moved in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, means ior varying the amount of angular movement of said driving element required to produce a given movement of said adjustment device, and reduction gearing interposed between said adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

3. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a fixed Support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into contact with said drum, pull-off means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for wear of said friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device comprising a ratchet wheel, a pawl or the equivalent engaging with said ratchet wheel, and a member carrying said pawl and mounted for angular movement concentrically of said ratchet wheel, a coupling member connected to said pawl-carrying member at a position offset from the centre thereof and also connected to a partl of the brake other than that on which said operating means as a whole is mounted, said coupling member being so arranged that relative motion of said operating means as a whole and said other part of the brake during pivotal movement of said shoe causes an angular movement of said pawl-carrying member around said ratchet wheel, such angular movement of said pawl-carrying member being adapted to cause uni-directional rotation of said ratchet wheel whereby, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, said adjustment device is moved in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, means for varying the amount of angular movement of said pawl-car ying member required to produce a given movement of said adjustment device, and reduction gearing interposed between said adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

4. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a iixed support, a rotating drinn, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into contact with said drum, a pivoted arm adapted for angular movement in accordance with the pivotal movement of said shoe, pull-olf means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for wear of said friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device comprising driving and driven elements angularly movable about a common centre, lever arm or the equivalent carried by said driving element and movable therewith, a coupling member connecting said pivoted arm to said lever arm so that relative motion of said pivoted arm and said operating means as a whole during pivotal movement oi" said shoe causes an angular movement of said driving element about its centre, such angular movement of said driving element being adapted to cause uni-directional rotation of said driven element whereby, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, said adjustment device is moved in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, means for adjusting longitudinally of one of said arms the point of connection thereto of said coupling member, and reduction gearing interposed between said adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

5. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a xed support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, a rotatable member for moving said shoeinto contact with said drum, an arm fixed to said shoe-moving means and formed with plurality of spaced holes along the length thereof, pull-oit means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for wear of said friction lil ng, means mounted on said shoe for operating adjustment device and comprising driving and driven elements angularly movable about a common centre, a coupling member having one end attached to said driving element at a position offset from the centre thereof, a pin passing through the other end of said coupling member holes in said arm, whereby relative movement of said arm and said operating means as a whole during pivotal movement of said shoe causes an angular movement oi said driving element about its centre, such angular movement of said driving element adapted to cause uni-directional rotation of said driven element whereby, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, said adjustment device is moved in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, and reduction gearing interposed between adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

6. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a and engageable selectively with the 2,144,ose

fixed support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into contact with said drum, pull-off means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for wear of said friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device comprising a rotary ratchet element and an element mounted for angular movement concentrically of said ratchet element, said concentrically-mounted element carrying a pawl which engages with said ratchet element and completely enclosing both said ratchet element and said paWl, a coupling member connected to one of said elements at a position offset from the centre thereof and also connected to a part of the brake other than that on which said operating means as a whole is mounted, said coupling member being so arranged that relative motion of said operating means as a whole and said other part of the brake during pivotal movement of said shoe causes an angular movement of said last-mentioned element about its centre, such angular movement of said last-mentioned element being adapted to cause uni-directional rotation of the other of said elements whereby, in. the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, said adjustment device noved in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, and reduction gearing interposed between said adjustment device and the operating means therefor. A

7. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a fixed support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into Contact with said drum, pull-off means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for wear oi said friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device comprising a pawl, a ratchet wheel mounted on a spindle and engaging with said pawl, and a housing completely enclosing. said ratchet Wheel and said pawl, said housing being centred on said spindle and having said pawi pivoted thereto, a coupling member connected to said housing at a position offset from the centre of said ratchet wheel and also connected to a part of the brake other than that on which said operating means a whole is mounted, said coupling member being so arranged that relative motion of said operating means as a whoie and said other part of the brake during pivotal movement of said shoe causes an angular movement oi said housing upon said spindle, such angular movement of said housing being adapted to cause uni-directional rotation or" said ratchet wheel whereby, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, said adiustment device is moved in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, and reduction gearing interposed between adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

S. in a vehicle brake, the combination of a fixed support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into contact with said drum, pull-off means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for Wear of said friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device compri"- ing a ratchet wheel mounted on a spindle, a ring embracing said ratchet wheel, plates secured to opposite sides of said ring and forming in con junction therewith a housing which completely encloses said ratchet wheel, said spindle passing through and fitting an aperture in one of said plates, and a pawl disposed wholly within said housing and pivoted thereto for co-operaticn with said ratchet wheel, a coupling member connected to said housing at a position oiset from the centre of said ratchet Wheel and also connected to a part of the brake other than that on which said operating means as a whole is mounted, said coupling member being so arranged that relative motion of said operating means as a whole and said other part of the brake during pivotal movement of said shoe causes an angular movement of said housing upon said spindle, such angular movement oi said housing being adapted to cause uni-directional rotation of said ratchet wheel whereby, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive,v said adjustment device is moved in a manner to reduce the travel necesu sary, and reduction gearing interposed between said adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

9. In a vehicle brake, the combination of a fixed support, a rotating drum, a shoe pivoted at one end to said support, a friction lining on said shoe, means for applying pressure to said shoe to move it into contact with said drum, pulloff means for moving said shoe into an inoperative position. when said pressure is relaxed, an adjustment device whereby the inoperative position of said shoe may be advanced towards said drum to compensate for wear of said. friction lining, operating means for said adjustment device comprising a ratchet wheel mounted on a spindle, a ring embracing said ratchet wheel, a plate secured to one side oi said ring and having an aperture therein which receives and ts said spindle, a second plate secured to the other side of said ring, the tWoi plates and said ring together forming a housing which completely encloses said ratchet wheel, a spigot on said second plate which engages an axial recess in said spindle, a pawl disposed wholly within said housing and pivoted thereto for co-operation with said ratchet wheel, and opposed lugs on said plates. extending beyond the periphery of said ring, a coupling member having one end pivoted to said housing between said opposed lugs and having its other end connected to a part of the brake other than that on which said operating means as a whole is mounted, said coupling member being so arranged that relative motion of said operating means as a Whole and said other part of the brake during pivotal movement of said shoe causes an angular movement of said housing upon said spindle, such angular movement of said housing being adapted to cause uni-directional rotation of said ratchet wheel whereby, in the event of the amount of shoe travel required to apply the brake becoming excessive, said adjustment device is moved in a manner to reduce the travel necessary, and reduction gearing interposed between said adjustment device and the operating means therefor.

THOMAS CARLYLE' ELUSON ROWLAND. HARRY PARKER. 

